“What you do has far greater impact than what you say,” according to Stephen Covey, author of The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. This can be especially true when it comes to interviewing for a new job.
While many stress about how they will respond to those grueling interview questions, it’s important to keep in mind the unspoken aspects of your interview as well. Continue reading for a few tips on how you can impress the hiring manager at your next interview without saying a word.
Be on time
Punctuality is one of the biggest signs of respect. If someone asks you to be somewhere at a specific time, and you arrive late, it’s an indication that you don’t value their time. Showing up early the day of your interview is never a bad thing. If you’re unsure of exactly how early to arrive, a good rule of thumb to follow is showing up 10-15 minutes prior to the scheduled interview time. Timeliness is a great indication that you’re responsible, committed, and organized, and who wouldn’t want to hire someone with those qualities?
Dress to impress
First impressions are everything, especially when you’re meeting a hiring manager or recruiter for an interview. You want to look put together and feel confident in order to perform well. Before the big day, select an interview-appropriate outfit and have it laid out and ready to avoid scrambling to piece something together at the last minute. Your outfit selection may vary depending on the company you’re interviewing with, but remember, it’s better to be overdressed than underdressed. You want to be taken seriously and you want them to know you’re here to close the deal.
Bonus tip: If you’re feeling a little self-conscious about your physical appearance, a little effort can go along way. Brighten up your smile with an at home teeth whitening kit or achieve thicker, healthier hair with a topical treatment like minoxidil. These small changes can make a large impact when it comes to landing a new position.
BYOS (Bring Your Own Supplies)
While it may seem unimportant, arriving with items such as a writing utensil, a copy(or several) of your resume, or copies of any other documents you may have sent to your interviewer, is a great habit to get into. This way, if they ask you a question pertaining to your resume and you need to refer to it, it’s right in front of you. If you want to look even more professional, invest in a fancy binder to keep all your documents in. This way you know where they are and you remain organized. Bringing along a writing utensil may come in handy if you’re asked to fill out any type of paperwork. Nothing says, “I’m unprepared,” like having to ask for a pen at an interview. You may also impress the panel of interviewers if you’re able to pull out examples of your previous work. Maybe they were running late and did not have time to print out these documents, so possible brownie points for you if you’re able to lend them a copy!
Maintain eye contact
The right amount of eye contact can make or break your chances of landing your dream job. Because of this, it’s crucial to maintain it from beginning to end. As strange as it may sound, proper eye contact allows someone to learn about your character without you having to speak a single word. Inversely, poor eye contact can negatively affect your interview and decrease your chances of being selected for the position. If you’re someone who tends to become nervous and disengage in eye contact, enlist a friend or family member to practice with beforehand. This will ease your nerves and help you to be more confident during your interview.
